Hiring a vinyl siding contractor takes a little detective work. Beyond asking around for referrals, you need to dig in with a few good questions when you interview potential contractors. Here’s a good link from Pbs.org to get you started.

Siding Contractor Questions

Next, try these questions for the siding contractor:

• How long have you been installing siding? Not kitchens, but siding. You want someone with experience in that home improvement category.
• Are you licensed, bonded, and insured?
• How do you resolve issues with your customers? All contractors have issues periodically with mistakes or a difficult installation. You want someone who can work through problems and act professionally.

Once you narrow down the siding contractor’s references, focus on the materials. Each material comes with pros and cons, so you want a siding contractor who can recommend the best for your situation. Here’s an overview of materials the siding contractor should consider.

Siding Contractor: Check the Record

Make sure the contractor has a track record with the type of material you’re using. Wood siding provides a great look, for example, but requires more maintenance. As long as you know that, you can make an informed decision.

Vinyl Siding Costs

Last, but not least, is the cost. Make sure you get a firm bid in writing that spells out all the details of the:

• Brand
• Type of material
• Size, shape and color
• Warranty

If all this talk of budgets has you debating whether to install vinyl siding yourself, take a look at this home improvement article on the costs involved. Consider whether you have the skills, time, tools, and patience to do the work yourself.

As with any home improvement project, a little bit of research goes a long way.

The exterior of you home says a lot about who you are and how much attention you pay to your home. If you’re considering re-doing your wood or vinyl siding, spend a little time researching potential contractors.

Surf for Siding Contractors

The Internet is one place to start gathering information on potential contractors. Some sites allow reviews of businesses and others provide ratings. Also ask friends and check with local home improvement stores for referrals. Vinyl siding vendors often know the best home improvement companies to do the installation.

You can get an idea of the cost of vinyl siding installation by comparing rates and quotes online. But don’t rely only on online reviews. Make sure you check a potential contractor’s:

• Business practices: Does the contractor return calls promptly, have a legitimate business address, and provide solid reference for home improvement work?
• References: Call a few on the phone, but also try to drive by some sites. Ask for names of people who had vinyl siding installed a few years ago. This can give you an idea of how the siding and installation holds up over time.
• Quality of work: When inspecting a contractor’s work, look first at the overall picture. How does the wood or vinyl siding look from the curb? Then narrow in on the details. Are there boards out of alignment? Is the color consistent? Has the owner had any problems with water infiltration? The Federal Trade Commission provides an extensive list of things to look for in potential contractors.
• Licensing and bonding: Many states require licensing for home improvement work. Requirements vary from state to state, so check for your local requirements. Make sure the company carries insurance and is bonded.

Your Contractor and Curb Appeal

Wood and vinyl siding are important exterior elements that add to your home’s appearance and value. Make sure any contractor you hire has good references and a solid history installing siding.

New vinyl or wood siding can quickly transform a house, bringing a crisp, clean color or a unique texture to the forefront.

All the Siding Options

If new siding is in your near future, you’ll want to understand all the options. Aside from the type of materials, you’ll need to select the right color for your home. Siding tends to be light in color, but there are shades of gray, cream, and light blue.

Most siding contractors recommend coordinating the color with your other exterior materials, such as any brick on the house or your window shutters.

Why Vinyl Siding?

Vinyl siding is perhaps the most widely recognized type of siding. Vinyl siding is a popular choice because it is durable and virtually maintenance free. It also is reasonably priced, making it ideal for first time buyers. Here’s more from the Vinyl Siding Institute.

Wood Siding Ideas

Wood siding appeals to those with classic architecture who want to maintain the integrity of an old house. Wood siding does require painting every four or five years, however, depending on your climate. Compare your vinyl and wood siding options before deciding.

Another Siding Option

Fiber cement is another siding option that is fairly new to the scene. It is made from a composite material and priced in between vinyl and wood siding. When in doubt, find a qualified siding contractor to show you samples and explain all the pros and cons.

Sometimes it’s confusing to look at the materials and try to visualize them on your house. Should you go with gray or cream? Textured or smooth? This site by Certainteed takes away some of that guess work, showing you how different styles will look.

There are many different types of siding. Your next step is to find a good siding contractor who can explain the ins and outs and help you make the right choice.

Builders use siding contractors to install siding on new homes. When it’s time for it to be replaced, many homeowners may try to undertake the job themselves. If this is the case, following are for things to keep in mind when replacing siding on your home.

Type of Siding: There are many options in siding. This is important to know because each requires different methods of removal and installation. While some siding can be replaced over existing siding, this is not the norm. Usually, the old siding will have to be totally removed before the new can be put up. read more »

Well-known for its harsh weather, the Windy City is not always kind to its houses. As a homeowner, you may be wondering what type of siding will hold up the best in Chicagoland. Is it wood, vinyl, or do you need to shell out the extra cash and go with brick to ensure your house withstands the weather? Before consulting a siding professional, take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of some of the most popular types of siding.

Here’s a countdown of the siding types homeowners often consider.

9. Stucco

Stucco is durable, but shows mold, dirt, and water stains easily. The weather in Chicago often does not treat stucco well and homeowners with stucco siding may find themselves power washing and painting often. Also, some insurance companies will not insure stucco homes.

8. Cedar Shingles

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It seems as though Northern Virginia residents will be cheated out of a beautiful fall once again. With temperatures quickly dropping, homeowners have little time to make sure their homes are prepared for the cold winter months.

With a change in seasons quickly approaching, here are a few things homeowners should be sure to do to stay as warm as possible for winter. read more »

Mount Freedom, NJ, August 31, 2007-American Home Improvement (http://www.americanhomeimprovementinc.com/), a home improvement company servicing New Jersey, has joined All Around the Home (http://www.allaroundthehome.com/) contractor directory. By becoming a part of All Around the Home, American Home Improvement will be able to take advantage of the directory’s services that benefit both contractors and homeowners. The contractor directory profiles all of its contractors, allowing them to post photos of their work and serves as a one-stop shop for homeowners needing home improvement work done.

For New Jersey homeowners who need home improvement work done, American Home Improvement specializes in windows, kitchen remodeling, roofing, and siding & doors. Whether homeowners are looking to build a new home or improve an older one, American Home Improvement can help make decisions easier through read more »

Many homeowners buy a house with the intention of making additions or updating it soon after they are moved in. Are you thinking your house needs some renovations, but aren’t sure what? Take a look at some of the choices homeowners today are making when it comes to their homes:

• White interior walls. Many painters find that homeowners are selecting white paint for the interior of their homes.

• Earth tones outdoors. For the exteriors of their homes, homeowners are choosing brown, gray, and other earth tones.

• Large additional rooms. Homeowners are requesting sunrooms, exercise rooms, screened porches, and larger, more detailed bathrooms.

• Tile floors. The most popular type of flooring is tile, though there is a growing, gradual selection of natural materials that can be recycled for floors.

For you forward-thinking homeowners, some hot new features already present in a few homes are starting to slowly become more popular and affordable. Dare to dream when it comes to what you would like to see in your home. Here are some features you may be seeing more and more of in the future: read more »

Chesapeake, VA, July 30, 2007–Hood Home & Building Services, Inc. has joined All Around the Home (AATH), an online contractor directory that is expanding nationally. By showcasing itself in All Around the Home, Hood Home & Building is joining the many home improvement professionals who agree that online marketing is important for reaching today’s consumer.

With a mission of providing Tidewater, VA with quality builders, Hood Home and Building (http://www.hhbsi.com/) has been serving the Tidewater area since 1995. Hood Home & Building is located in Chesapeake Virginia, the third most populous city in Virginia. For homeowners in the Tidewater area, Hood Home and Building offers building remodeling and repair services as well as windows, siding and roofing contractors.Homeowners not located near Tidewater, VA can still visit All Around the Home (http://www.allaroundthehome.com/) for read more »

Most homeowners are very aware of their home’s exterior. Keeping a beautiful house says something about its residents. Homeowners often make sure their house has a fresh coat of paint, clean siding and a beautiful roof and driveways, but sometimes overlook a very important factor, landscaping. One of the simplest ways to add aesthetic beauty to your home is by taking the time to make sure your yard looks great. This easy task can make a world of a difference for your home’s curb appeal.

Here are some key points to follow when considering easy and cost effective ways to create a beautiful yard:

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